Hello everyone. The weather is getting colder, but MALA is still at work, getting the groundwork in place for next year’s lacrosse season. Here are a few important announcements to pay attention to for the 2017 season.

3 new clubs join MALA

At the November 16th Board meeting the applications for MALA membership for Kettle Moraine, Elkhorn and Watertown were approved. Prior to approval the Board discussed the benefits and challenges of adding three new clubs for the upcoming season but felt that any challenges could be mitigated through careful scheduling and clear communication with all member clubs. As such the consensus agreement to address the influx of new teams for the 2017 season was:

Establish a 10-12 game base league schedule for each member team. Teams are free to schedule additional games with other MALA teams as their schedule and budget allows.

To minimize travel, incorporate as many games as possible in a play-date format where each team plays multiple games at the host teams field(s) on a single day.

Schedule, to the extent possible, only one day per weekend when games will be played as opposed to playing games both Saturday and Sunday

Based on the number of teams at each level, establish multiple division’s that are geographically based which will also reduce or minimize travel requirements.

To ensure adequate game official coverage, recruit and train additional umpires/officials to cover games. The current recruitment effort has netted 12-14 new officials for the 2017 season!

Review the 2017 season when completed and make adjustments as necessary prior to the 2018 season.

“With lacrosse continuing to grow and expand geographically we will need to be flexible and accommodating as we move forward,” commented MALA President John Welke. “We are really happy to welcome these new clubs. They will allow our historical club members an opportunity to play teams that they don’t normally encounter and that should be really great experience for everyone involved,” he added.

MALA Board of Directors Meeting - December 14

Because of the Christmas holiday, MALA board of director’s meeting for December has been moved to December 14, 2016 at the Madison Central Library, room 111.

US Lacrosse Age Segmentation Changes for 2017-2018

US Lacrosse has announced a new age segmentation policy to help with player safety, competitive fairness, and a consistent experience. The change will officially take place on September 1, 2017.

Neither WLF nor MALA has yet decided to adopt these US Lacrosse changes as-is, or with modifications. Parents and coaches may give input through the respective MALA Vice President.

US Lacrosse Announces Rules Changes

In August and September, US Lacrosse announced changes for both girls and boys lacrosse, at both youth and high school levels. Summaries for the youth girls and youth boys rules have been on the Madlax.org website. High school girls and high school boys rules summaries will be in the 2017 rulebook, but can also be found on the US Lacrosse website.

Game Scoresheets Available on Madlax.org

Game scoresheets have been placed on Madlax.org for download, in both PDF and Excel forms. Home teams are required to have a scoresheet for each game, so this makes it easier for teams to use one without needing to go out and purchase a scorebook.

VP Girls Youth Still Needed

A Vice-President of Girls Youth is still needed. One of the primary responsibilities of the VP Girls Youth is creating the schedule. Without someone volunteering for this position, it will be difficult for the 2017 schedule to be created. Please contact MALA President John Welke at
if you're interested.

The MALA Board of Directors is still looking for a motivated and organized individual from one of its member clubs to fill the remaining term and role of the Vice President of Girls Youth programs. This position plays a key role in coordinating various aspects of the girl’s youth leagues. An initial and critically important responsibility for this position is to establish the 2017 season game schedule. The time commitment varies monthly but usually averages about 4-6 hours per month which includes attending the monthly MALA meeting. This position is usually a two-year term but due to an unanticipated mid-term resignation by the incumbent, this position will expire in July 2017 but the person appointed to this role can run for the next full 2-year term expiring in 2019. Please take the time to share this information and recruit an individual from your membership so that MALA can ensure that the girls youth programs have the representation they deserve.

Additional information is contained in the position description is below. Please feel free to contact MALA President John Welke at 608-287- 4013 or at
for more information.

(From the MALA By Laws)

Section 2.12. The Vice President- Girls’ Youth. The vice president shall perform the duties of the president at the break-out meetings for the girl’s youth division of MALA and such other duties as may be assigned to him or her by the MALA membership or the president. The Vice President-Girls’ Youth shall oversee the girls youth leagues and the officials of their respective divisions and shall work with the coordinators and the director of officials to schedule games. The Vice President-Girls’ Youth shall work with coaches’ representatives, Umpire Coordinator and to schedule games / enforce rules / recruit and maintain teams.

​The 2017 WLF Spring Jamboree (March 25 and 26 at Woodside Sports Complex) needs a new leader and committee. My "Bill-Paying" job is taking me out of the running for continuing my efforts to make this Jamboree go. I am able to work with the new, incoming people into February for transitional purposes, then I'll be backing out. At the end of this message is what is needed for help, and I can put in more detail as the people come forward.

If you are not a person that can step up to help put on this great event for the kids, please pass this on to many other people. This group needs to be in place by December, otherwise the Jamboree will not be able to continue.

Thank you for your assistance in helping me hand this over to the next generation of lacrosse volunteers. Your help is greatly appreciated.

-Dave Wollin

​

Operations (Committee Chair)

Oversees all aspects of the Jamboree

Represent Jamboree interests to the WLF Board (or through the Events Director if not on the WLF Board)

Develop and maintain “Rules of the Day” which include facility rules

Create game day schedules for all teams (on Blue Sombrero)

Find college teams for marquee game. Men’s and women’s

Develop extracurricular activities

Coaching/player clinics

Entertainment

Game Day/Facility

Work closely with Operations

Be on site and insure facility is set up for the event

Signage

Work with facility regarding

Contract/rate

Number of fields/length of day

Field equipment including balls and air horns

Registration/Check-in

Visitor/spectator services

Finances

Online Registration (Blue Sombrero)

Invoice/collection of fees

Work with WLF Grants and Marketing Directors for sponsorships and other sources of income for the event

Want to get involved with Lacrosse? Wisconsin Lacrosse and its member teams can always use more help. Here are some ways to get more involved in the fastest game on two feet!

Become an Official

Officials are needed for both the boys and girls games. Experience with lacrosse or officiating other sports is helpful, but not required. You need a willingness to learn, time to attend training (training starts in early 2017), and the ability to hustle up and down the field. A new official typically starts with the youth ranks, then has the opportunity to move up to high school play and then officiate college games as well!

For more information, contact:

Boys game: Dave Wollin -

Girls game: Bob Glover -

Become a Coach

Want to help coach the next generation of lacrosse players? Contact your nearest club and see if they could use a helping hand. Prior lacrosse or coaching experience helpful, but not necessary. Many clubs are willing to help bring you along in learning about the game and in coaching kids.

The Role of Parents
You, the parent, are equally as important to your child's positive lacrosse experience as the coach of the team. In order for your child to get the most out of playing lacrosse, it is important that you do the following:

One: Be supportive of your child by giving encouragement and showing an interest in his or her team. Positive reinforcement encourages learning and fun. Research has shown that a ratio of five positive statements (compliments, positive recognition) for each negative statement (criticisms, corrections) is ideal for helping young athletes do their best. Try to maintain a 5:1 ratio in your comments to your child.

Two: Attend games whenever possible. If you cannot attend, ask about your child’s experience, not whether the team won or lost. Some questions that you might ask before asking about the final score include: "Did you try as hard as you could? Did you have fun? Did you learn anything today that might make you a better player in the future?"

Three: Be a positive role model by displaying good sportsmanship at all times to coaches, officials,opponents and your child’s teammates. "Honoring the Game" is an important part of what US Lacrosse represents. Help us by honoring the game in your behavior as a spectator.

Four: Let your child set his own goals and play the game for himself, herself. Be your child’s "home court advantage" by giving him or her your unconditional support regardless of how well he or she performs.

Five: Let the coach coach. Refrain from giving your child advice when he or she is playing. Use positive reinforcement with your child’s coach. Let the coach know when he or she is doing a good job.

Six: Respect the decisions of the referee or umpire. This is an important part of honoring the game. Your child will pay more attention to how you act than to what you say.

Seven: Read the rulebook. A full understanding of the rules will help you enjoy the game and educate others.

Eight: Get to know who is in charge. Meet with the leadership of the program, whether it’s school sponsored or recreational, to discuss topics such as cost, practice and game scheduling, insurance coverage, emergency procedures, etc.

Nine: Get involved! A great way to support your child's lacrosse experience is by becoming a volunteer for the program. Some of the ways you can get involved: keep the scorebook, run the clock, line the fields, manage equipment, chaperon trips, raise funds, organize clinics and team social events, update the team web site, photograph players and organize carpooling.